The issue of waste in Nigeria has under done many techniques to get it tackled. However, uncollected trash is a very big problem in developing regions of the world, especially Africa. In respect to World Bank Urban Development Series report;
“Africa currently produces just about 70 million tons of waste every year. With its rapid urbanization and growing economies, waste production in Africa will exceed 160 million tons by the year 2025.”
When waste is littered, it becomes a problem because it causes pollution, diseases and environmental crisis if it’s not properly disposed or recycled. Some Africans didn’t realise that most of the waste produced in Africa can be recycled and reused to create new products. Sadly, only about 10 percent of the waste generated every day in Africa is collected. The rest usually ends up in illegal dump sites, gutters and drainage in Africa’s cities which eventually causes blockage resulting to flood.
In order to manage and help in recycling waste in Nigeria, an Italian firm is ready to invest 40m euros in waste recycling plant in Nigeria. The Nigeria Management Environmental Finance said:
“An Italian firm, has planned in establishing wastes recycling plant in Calabar with an investment package totaling 40 million Euros.”
It was also confirmed that a team of Italian delegation led by Chinedu Okpalama, made this known that the leading project in Nigeria for treatment of solid waste, recycling of raw materials and retrieval of energy in the state will gulp 40million Euros to be invested by the the firm with out funding from the state. The firm assured that all expenses with be spent by the firm alone.
In addition, Okpalama said the facility will have the capacity to treat 500,000 tonnes per year of municipal solid waste when fully built. The plant will also run for 7920 hours per year as well as produce 4.2mw of energy per hour. He further said it will cost Cross River nothing to install the plant, the company is committed to using the state as its lead. And that, it will further spread it’s tentacles to other state. He added that the establishment of the plant in Cross River will cost 40 million Euros and this will be the hub for environmentally treated waste.
The firm has assured that this project will move round the country. Its next target is Lagos state where waste can be easily collected. Most Nigerians are really excited with the new innovation. They believe it will help to create more jobs in the country and at thesame time increase the economy standard. In addition some feel it will help to reduce environmental pollution which is the source of some communicable diseases.
Waste management officials also urge Nigerians to manage waste around them. The act of littering waste in sensitive areas could cause diseases that might claim lives. “Even though the Italian firm is set to come to our aid, we still need to do our part.” An official said.
